Method of forming links



Feb. 28, 1933. I v J, S E'ED I 1,899,645 METHOD of FORMING LINKS I I Original Filed July 16 192 8 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 "nwswrox 70H SIVEED AIYDZBNEVS Feb. 28, 1933.

- J. SNEED 1,899,645

METHOD OF FORMING LINKS Original Fiied July 1a. 1928 S ShetS-Sh et; 2

- mmswroze JOH/V 'S/Vfffi Feb. 28, 1933. J. "SNEED 1,399,645

METHO OF FQRMING LIims Original Filed July 16} 1928 s Sheets-Sheet- 3 .70 A s/vEEb 37% Zr Patented' Feb. 28, 1933 UNITED STATES JOHN SNEED, OF GROSSE POINTE SHORES, MICHIGAN METHOD OF FORMING LINKS Original application filed July 16, 1928, Serial No. 293,107. Divided and this applicationnled liovember 25, 1929'. Serial No. 409,540.

This invention relates to links or tie rods and more particularly to a method of making them. This application is a division of my copending United States application Serial No. 293,107, filed July 16th, 1928. i

It is among the objects of my invention to form a link essentially of one piece of sheet stock; to provide a link and method of making same having the attributes of strength, durability, economy and vneatness of appear-- ance; to provide a method of forming the type of link disclosed in the above mentioned copending patent application by a simple and economical process.

Other objects will appear from the following description of a preferred form of my invention in which the article and the steps of a preferred method are described in detail. The precepts of my invention are equally applicable to such devices as drag links in the steering mechanism and connecting links in shock absorbers .etc. The essential characteristics are summarized in the claims.

In the drawings, Fig. 1 illustrates the embodiment of my link as a tie rod between the steering arms of the swiveling wheels of a motor vehicle; Fig. 2 is a partially broken longitudinal section of the link and the assembled parts at the end; Fig. 3 is a view taken on the line 3-3 of Fig. 2 illustrating the end contour of my link; Fig. 4 is a bottom plan view of =one end of the link; Fig. 5 illustrates the blank of sheet stock from which the link maybe formed; Fig. 6 is a partial longitudinal section of the female die used in the first step of the .forming'operation.of the link; Fig. 7 is a partial side elevation of one end of the link after the first forming step; Fig. 8 is a top plan view of the piece in the same-stage; Fig. 9 is a section taken on the line 9-9 of Fig. 7; Fig. 10

is a section taken through the end of the female die used in the second forming step;

Fig. 11 is a section'illustrating the relation of the link and the several'dies at the end of the second step showing an ejecting and centering die or mandrel.

Referring to Fig. 1, I'show the link or tie rod L joining steering arms 1 and 2. As is i the usual practice thesteering arms are car ried by swiveling stub axles which pivot about inclined axes. As the wheels swivel the end of the one of the steering arms falls while the end of the other steering arm rises so that universal connections are desirable between the ends of the link and the steering arms. In the embodiment of my link as a tie rod for the front wheels of a motor vehicle, it is also desirable that the ends of the steering arms be moved toward or away from each other to align'the wheels. a

Referring toFigs. 2 and 3, the link member L comprises a longitudinally extending cylindrical portion 10 with integrally formed cupped ends 11 and 12; As illustrated in Fig. 2, the upper parts of the cupped ends 11 and 12 are hemispherically formed and merge into depending cylindrical parts of like radius. Generally speaking the end portions Hand 12 comprise socketsfor holdlng and permitting universal movement of connecting and adjusting members 13 and 14. The axes of the cylindrical parts ends preferably extend atright angles to the longitudinal axis of the link. The intersections of the axesdetermine the centers of the hemispherical parts of the cups. 1 Each of the of the cupped cupped ends have a central aperture 110 and i -12e punched in the hemispherical part through which the shank of one of the members 13 and 14 extends.

The connecting members 13 and 14 may be similar. The member 13 comprises a substantially spherical ball portion shown at 15 which is held in a-socket-in the end portion of the link. Opposite the ball end is a tapered shank 17 the axis of'which is offset from the center of the ball. The ends of the steering arms 3 and 4 have conically formed seats into which the tapered shanksof the members 13 and 14 are secured by nuts 5 and 6 threaded on extensions of the members. The ends of:

the threaded extensions may be slotted as at 7 and 8 to be held against rotation. I prefer that the ball parts of the connecting members 13 and 14 be carried by the link, but if it be desired, the ball-parts may be carried by the steering arms or its equivalent and the tapered shank may be carried by the link. The principal of this phase of my invention being that theofiset shanks facilitate adjustment whilethe ball parts permit universal movement between the link and the members between which it serves To move the ends of the steering arms 3 and ing members in an assembled'socket between which is incorporated a lubricating device and chamber. In 1 there is illustrated a tubular bushing or hearing member 20 which has a concave spherical surface 21 forming the upper part of the socket. The member 20 extends through the cylindrical part of the end portion of the link with shoulders resting against the periphery of the aperture lie. The upper edge of the member 1s peened over as at 22 and is thereby permanently secured in the end. of the link. The

cylindrical walls of the cupped end closely" fit and support the member. When the member 20 is secured in the end of the link, the

lower longitudinal seam 40, see Fig. 4, and the oint 41 in the cylindrical part of the cupped I end are welded, as at 42, see also Figs. 2 and 3.

After the members 20 are secured in the cupped ends, the ball stud connecting members 13 and 14 are inserted so that the ball portions rest upon the surfaces 21. Then a member 25 is inserted in the member 20 to engage the ball portion along the surface 27 to complete the socket, see Fig. 2. A short coil spring 26 is compressed between the member 25 and a closure member 28. The closure member 28 may be permanentlysecured by inturning the lower edge of the member 20 as at 29. Lubricant fittings 30 of any well known type may be'threaded into the member 29 so that lubricant may be forced into the chamber defined by the member 20. The member 25 has a central aperture in its bearing surface both for the admission of lubricant and for the admission of such' means as a drift pin for driving the shank of the ball stud' into'the conical seat in the end of the steering arms.

- Referring particularly to Figs. 5 to 11, I

will describe a preferred method of forming the link. The blank from which the link may be formed is illustrated in Fig. 5 and comprises a longitudinally ext-ending rectangular part 10a with substantially discslike' ends 11a and 12a. "T he junction between the disc-like ends and the middle rectangular portion may be cut as at 41a to provide an excess of metal to close the joint at 41, see Fig. 4.

Referring to Figs. 6 to 9 inclusive, the blank is forced into a femaledie 60, partial- 1y illustrated in Fig. 6, which comprises primarily a longitudinally extending channel part Gljthe bottom of which is semi-cylindrical so that the mid portion IQ of the link is drawn to a semi-cylindrical section 10?),

.see Fig. 9. The die 60 has at both ends a substantially hemispherical bottom 62 struck from a sphere whose center C lies coincident with. the axis of the semi-cylindrical part 61 of the die.- The whole die may have an adjustable insert not shown so that the distance between centers C determines the distance between which the center of the balls 15 will be spaced apart in the finished link. The parts of the die 60 directly above the hemispherical part 62 are substantially cylindrical as at 63. The piece is drawn by a complementary male die not shown and is thus formed with cupped ends partially spherical in form as at 126 and partially cylindrlcal in form as at 120.

Referring to Figs.10 and 11 the piece having been formed to the shape shown in Figs. 7 to 9 is inverted with its open edge facing the die 70 and with the cupped end portlons carried by retractable dies or mandrels 80.

The dies may be resiliently or otherwise retractably supported and serve to space the end portions and hold the walls thereof during the last forming operation. A downwardly moving die 71 having a contour similar to the die 60 urges the piece downwardly 7 mentioned above and as shown iii Figs. 2, 3 r

and 4, the joints 40 and 41 are welded as at '42 both for the purpose of filling the joint and of securing the edges together adjacent the ends of the link.

Although my improved method of forming links has been described and illustrated as applied to the manufacture of tie rods for connecting the swiveling wheels of a motor vehicle, I do not care to be liimted in its application particularly to a tie rod. While I have described a method of forming one form of tie rod, I do not care to be limited by the particular description or in any manner other than by the claims appended hereto. I

I claim .seam in the cylindrical portion of the end parts together to form a closed cylinder with a joint adjacent-said seam and thereafter welding at least the ends of said seam'and said oints.

" "2,1he method of making a tie rod for use in vehicle steering gear which consists in forming a unit with cupped ends, punching openings in the bottom of/ the cupped ends,

placing tubular members in said ends with their walls engaging the walls of the cups and with the ends of the tubular members extending through said openings and 'th'ere-' after peening the ends of the tubular members over the peripheries of said openings to secure the tubular members in the cupped ends.

3.'The method of making a tie rod from sheetistock which consistsin drawing a channeled mid-portion with cupped ends disposed normal to the channel portion, holding the ends against movement toward or away from each other and forcing the edges of the channel together to form a tubular part with a longitudinal seam and drawing together the walls of the cupped ends adjacent the seam to form the closed cylindrical part of the cup with a joint adjacent .the seam, pressing into the cupped ends a bushing or bearing part and thereafter welding together at least the ends of the seam and the said joint.

4; The method of forming a tie rod for use in vehicle steering gear from sheet stock, which, consists in drawing 'a blank into a channel shaped mid-portion with cup shaped end portions, forcing the edges of the channel together to form a tubular body for the link, and closing the brims of the cupped ends and welding at least the ends of the seam inthe tubular body and the joints in the brims of the cupped parts. V 5. The method offorming a tie rod for use in vehicle steering gear which consists in drawing from sheet stock a channel part with cupped ends, the cupped ends being drawn, to greater depth than the channel, then holding the cupped ends against movement toward or away from each other while forcing the edges of the channel-section toward each otlhlgr to form a tubular middle part for the 6. The method of making a tie rod for use 'in vehicle steeringgear with integral cupped ends from sheet stock which consists in drawing the'stock into a longitudinally extending channel part and into partially spherical and after edge of the cylindrical walls partially cylindrical end parts, bringing the edges of the channel part together along a longitudinal seam to form -a tubular part and forcing the stock adjacent the endsof the'seal in the cylindrical portion of the end parts to form a closed cylinder while holding the end parts against movement toward each other.

7. The method according tp claim 6 which includes punching openings in the cupped ends, inserting sleeves through the openings and peening the ends of the sleeves over the periphery of said openings.

v 8. The method of forming a tie rod which consists ii -pressing from sheet stock a .body

part and drawing cupped ends, from:.the, 1

same stock each with a substantially hemi spherical portion and an integral incomplete cylindrical portion of like radius and thereholding the said substantially v hemispherical portions a fixed distance'from each other whiledrawing the walls of the cylin drical portions together to form complete cylindrical portions.

9. The method of forming a tie rod for use in vehicle steering gear which consists of stamping a sheet metal blank-into a longi. tudinally extending portion of U-shaped cross section with cup shaped end portions having 0 lindrical side walls and spherically formed ase portions, closing the open U- shaped longitudinal portion to form a tubular portion and completely closing the top of said cup shaped portion.

10. The method of forming a link which consists in drawing from sheet stock a channel part with cupped ends, the cupped ends being drawn to greater depth than the channel and thereafter apertured, and forcing the edges of the channel part toward each other to form a tubular middle part for the link.

11. The method of making a link which consists in drawing from sheet stock a channel part with cupped ends, the cupped ends being drawn to greater depth t nel, forcing the edges of the ch nnelpart toward each other to form a tubular middle part for the link, punching openings in the cupped ends, inserting sleeves through said openings andpeening the ends of said sleeves over the edges of saidopenings.

12. The method of making a link from sheet stock which consists in drawing a channeled mid-portion with cupped ends, forcing together the edges of the channel to form a tubular part with a longitudinal seam, punching-openings in the cupped ends, inserting sleeves through said openings, peening the ends of said sleeves over the edges of said openings and welding together at least the end portions of said longitudinal-seam.

13. Theimethod of making a'tie rod from sheet stock which consists in drawing a channeled body portion with cup shaped vends an the chanhaving an open side, holding the ends against movement toward or away from each other and forcing the edges of the channeled body portion together to form a tubular part with a longitudinal seam and thereafter pressing a' bushing or bearing into said cupped end portions. v

14. The method of making a'link with integral cupped ends from sheet stock which includes punching openings in the cupped ends inserting sleeves through the openings and. peening the ends of the sleeves over the periphery of said openings. 7

In testimony whereofI hereunto aflix my signature this 22nd day of November, 1929.

- JOHN SNEEDV 

